Eight new platform support vessels (PSV) have been ordered by Petrobras as part of an ongoing fleet renewal programme.
The state-owned major has ordered four vessels from shipbuilder Bram Offshore, which will be building them at its Havship yard in Santa Catarina state, Brazil. Another three will be constructed by Starnav at its Detroit shipyard also in Santa Catarina, and one by Norskan, using the STX Vard shipyard in Rio de Janeiro state, Petrobras said.
The operator has ordered the vessels as part of its fleet renewal plan for offshore support vessels called Prorefam, which was launched in 2008 with the aim of contracting up to 146 units over seven bid rounds, including platform support, anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) and oil spill response (OSRV) vessels.
These latest orders are from the fifth bid round, through which a total of 87 vessels have been ordered so far. Local content requirements for the vessel construction program have been set at 50% for AHTSs and 60% for PSVs and OSRVs.
Bids for a sixth vessel construction round are undergoing a technical review, and Petrobras says it intends to launch a seventh round in March.
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